I'm looking at the Lamiglas Surf King Surf Rod (SK 81 MS) or the St. Croix Premier Surf Rod (PSRS 80M). Both are 8', single piece surf rods, 1/2 -2 oz. lures, 10-17 # test line. Any suggestions or your experiences with either would be appreciated.

I don't have an 8' St.Croix but I do have 2 Avid series (St.Croix). ASRS90Med one pice rated 1/2 -2 1/2 oz.an a ASRS10Med 3/4-4.0 oz.There both wicked light and been happy w/ both I just wished I used-em more this past season :wall:
Good luck in search.


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is this going to be a schoolie rod? seems pretty light, but all depends what you are doing with it..

You should also look at the G-loomis surf rods.

Thanks for the replies thus far. It's for schoolie to just over keeper size fish, although should a cow come along, it should be able to handle it too. I already have a cow rod. The gLoomis were a little more money than I was planning on spending. The rods I listed are $110- $150. Let me know what you think.

Keep in mind that the Loomis has a guarantee that is tops in the business.I've broken some that were replaced,no questions asked.

I have that rod in a 7 foot and a 8 1/2. Both are 1/2 -2, 10-17 line and have handled everything to date with no problems. I have a 360 on the 7' and a 460 on the other. Could not be happier!

I forgot to mention they are St. Croix's

Good information. Thanks.
Does anyone know how the Avid might stack up against St. Croix or gLoomis?

I have the 7'6" Popping 2 piece G-loomis and while catching schoolies I hooked onto a 39 incher and handled it no prob and big blooos were no issue either. Even tho it looks like a freshwater rod because its so thin it has handled every fish i caught very well. im also using a Penn 5500 spinning reel with 14lb mono line.

I have 2 St croix and 1 Lami. 7 ft SC #6-#10 lb up to 3/4oz. Great shoolie rod but was able to handle a #15 fish without problem. The ss86m2 #8-#14 up to 1 1/2 oz. Both are my favorites for the lighter plugs which i usually throw. as you can really feel the plug working.

The Lami is an xs86ms #10-#17 5/8 up to 2oz. Just can't feel the plugs working as well as the St croixs. Personal preference, ya couldn't go wrong with either one.

Any idea which rod imparts better action to a plug, jig, tin, the lami or the St. Croix?

Good information. Thanks.
Does anyone know how the Avid might stack up against St. Croix or gLoomis?

Avid is St.Croix too it's just the next step up from the Premier Surf Series.

Sea Dangles is right about the G-Loomis guarantee,just mail it back and get a brand new one no question asked.I have a G-Loomis 1265C Surf series 4-8 oz. w/conventional I mianly use it for eeling the canal,I can use it for plugs and jigs but it's too thick.

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I've used one for two seasons. Great rod for the relatively calm water of the upper bay. It will still allow you to cast and fight fish when in up to your chest. Rated to 2 ounces. I thrown 2.5 -2.75 ounces with no problems. Pole can muscle fish up to 20lbs with no issue. An Avid is probably that much nicer.

I have the 8' St Croix Ben Door and have caught many 20+ pound fish on it

I have a 7' Loomis salt wqater blank that is aweeesomme for schoolies

Stradic 5000fh on each

I have an 8' St. Croix Premier and have found it to be a very versatile, deceptively powerful rod. It definitely is underrated, it can throw 2.5 ounces no problem and it has a lot of fish fighting power down low. I also have an 8' Avid which is as light as a feather and is great with sluggos, but the Premier has a more powerful tip and feels beefier. The Avid is thinner in the tip section and cannot handle larger plugs as well as the Premier.

Thanks again for all the useful information. Has anyone an opinion on the St. Croix Tidemaster TS80HF versus the St. Croix Premier PSRS80M. The Tidemaster has a higher range for line weight which is a good thing, but only offers a (2) yr. warranty vs. a (5) yr. warranty for the Premier.

Get the 7'-8'-9' TICA spin and change out the tip for braid use, don't underestimate these rods you'll have some X-tra $$ in your pocket.
LINK SR

St.Croix now has the Triumph surf rods also.Only the 7',yes seven,is one piece.

You may wish look at the Tica rods as Link Sr suggested.The newer UGSA surf rods are definitely a step up in quality over the older UEHA rods.

There are so many choices.

The best 8' rod I've ever owned, or used, bar none, is the Loomis SUR 964S.

It's rated 1/2 to 2 oz. It's not "just" a schoolie rod. Unless you're fishing in a junkyard, it'll handle any fish you hook.

Unless you have two fists made of ham hocks, you'll probably never have to use the warranty.

IMO the extra change would be money well spent ;)

Almost all Loomis rods have a deceptive amount of power, especially considering how light they are. In most people's hands they cast plugs farther then most other rods. I think the soft tip helps launch plugs a bit more smoothly so they are less likely to tumble in the air. In my hands the Surf Series 1266S outcasts my usual weapon of choice, the Arra 1205.

They don't give them away, but they're great sticks with a great warranty.

Yes - Loomis does cast very well.
I did a comparison with a buddy's Loomis and my Kennedy Spinfisher. Same lure, same line, rods about the same size and action - I love my Kennedy, but that Loomis cast much farther.